The tag-line says "Here's to truth and justice in the English Teaching world." I say GOOD LUCK!

I wonder if this thread shouldn't be in the General Discussion forum. As for getting truth and justice in disputes with Chinese schools, what makes anyone think that a Chinese school would ever submit to arbitration by a bunch of foreigners?

Yes this does belong in the general discussion forum, but if it were there I probably wouldn't get to see it. Looks like an interesting project, although it's too early to tell how effective it will become. My guess is that a lot of teachers will give up on it for the reason JWB gave. Too bad, because even if schools can't be persuaded to submit to arbitration, simply the existence of an independent and reliable ratings site would be a good thing.

I think that the site is a good idea but I share the concerns that have been raised on that thread. However in the very least it will be another source of information about schools and that has got to be a good thing.

If I am right the Approved Schools section will be populated by schools that have been through and stuck by the terms of the mediation process. If so then that will be very valuable information for everyone. For some time now I have been a proponent of getting information out there about good schools as opposed to just complaints about bad ones and I for one hope that the site achieves that aim.

The biggest downside that I see to that site is the fact that it is free. Without a source of income most websites tend to die a slow death or even worse continue living but never really get anywhere. Perhaps there is some money behind the site that we are all not aware of!

If I say publically a school is good, no problem. My concern, as a long term resident here ion Henan (dare I say it is my career? it has been for a while at least)
authorities wiould act very negatively to my saying anything negative, publically, about a school, even if they all know the school is atrocious

on the other hand, if something like this gained momentum, which schools honour their committments, which schools don't, it could easily have a positive effect on a schools decision whether to do what they should do. And I suppose if laowai told other laowai you have no case, they would tend to believe it ... perhaps

I can easily see the potential for a "kangaroo" court. Based on message boards, I don't fully trust the general public being able to dole out "justice" big or small, without any sort of partiality. Perhaps there's a thorough screening process like most American courts attempt to have when putting together a jury?

I can easily see the potential for a "kangaroo" court. Based on message boards, I don't fully trust the general public being able to dole out "justice" big or small, without any sort of partiality. Perhaps there's a thorough screening process like most American courts attempt to have when putting together a jury?

Perhaps the name of that site is a bit misleading in this regard but let's be realistic here - nothing that comes out of that mediation is going to be legally binding so I don't think that you can compare it to a court.

The value of that site will only come to fruition when you have a complaint between and legitimate school and teacher. Both parties will obviously state their cases and then the third party arbitration will make a ruling along the lines of 'In our opinion....'. Both parties will then be free to accept or disregard this ruling and that is the beauty and the archilles heel of that site.

Bad schools and nutbag teachers will not play ball no matter how conclusive the feelings are toward who is in the wrong. But legitimate schools that do show a willingness to resolve the dispute will hopefully be the ones added to the recommended list there.

If I am right then after a year or two of dispute resolution there should be a pretty clear record of which employers ignore the opportunity to resolve disputes, which places refuse to be reasonable, and which ones act reasonably. Given that information I know which type of employer I would be seeking out.

nothing that comes out of that mediation is going to be legally binding so I don't think that you can compare it to a court.

Right you are, no mediation is legally binding.

As this site exist to replicate the actions of a SAFEA mediation which cannot guarantee compliance what chance does a foreign attempt at a vague representation of mediation have.

As the staff of a particular education facility is usually the reason for success or failure, what safe guards are built in to indicate when a change of admin can give new life to a fair operating system with in a given school.

For this reason any news that happen yesterday is simply old news and not worth consideration. Only current employees can give you the 411..